Variable coverage bed covering

ABSTRACT

A bed covering for use by one or more occupants includes an upper portion, a lower portion, an opening, and an overlap. The opening may be formed by the overlap of the upper portion and the lower portion so that through and between the overlap, an occupant&#39;s body part such as a foot, leg, hand or in any combination thereof may be extended out of the bed covering.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a Continuation-In-Part Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/900,539 filed on Jul. 28, 2004, the content of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a bed covering, more particularly, to a variable coverage bed covering with an opening across the bed covering so that the occupant's body part (e.g. a foot, a leg, an arm, a hand, or in any combination thereof) be extended out from the bed covering to expose the body part.

2. Description of the Prior Art

There are numerous types of bed coverings with many different shapes, designs, fabrics, thicknesses, and color schemes; however, all are mainly for coverage for warmth. The bed coverings include such as; sheets, blankets, comforters, and the like. These traditional bed coverings fail to consider the occupant's specific needs and preferences to expose the occupant's body part while the occupant remains within or under the bed covering.

Many inventors in the past considered such short comings of conventional/traditional bed coverings and put efforts to solve similar problems for permitting a pair of occupant may individually adjust coverage according to a temperature preference of each occupant without affecting the coverage of the other occupant. Sometimes it is necessary that the occupant's body part needs to be outside the bed covering for medical reasons or simply for a temperature preference to relieve for example, from his or her hot foot syndrome, or other personal reasons.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,171 to Allen (2001) is a bed sheet and blanket combination which has two separated pockets with pocket opening for insertion of an insulated material. The pocket is provided with independent blanket support upon the under sheet to accommodate user's preference. This invention includes compartmentalizing the blanket, which destroys the aesthetic appearance of the conventional bedding because of unevenness of surface. Cost of manufacturing is another negative factor. U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,396 to Carapezza (2002) considered a temperature preference of one occupant by simply separating two occupants in the bed by compartmentalizing a blanket, as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,171 to Allen.

Thereafter, another document considered an individual's need to warm a foot by adding a pocket attached to a conventional bed covering (U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,521 to Awaits (1996).

Disadvantages of the aforementioned devices include that the devices are too unconventional which destroys traditional aesthetic appearance, costly to manufacture, and/or a compartment separates occupants in the same bed covering.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A variable coverage bed covering comprises an upper portion, a lower portion, an opening including a mouth of opening and an end of opening; overlap including an inner layer, an outer layer, a first peripheral edge seam, and a second peripheral edge seam. The opening is formed between the inner layer and the outer layer of the overlap such that the opening and the overlap are interdependent to each other as to the location, shape, and size of the opening.

The overlap is being formed by adjoining and overlapping the upper portion and the lower portion at a predetermined location with predetermined length of the overlap. The upper portion and the lower portion are connected by stitches or similar means over peripheral edges of the overlap and as a result a first peripheral edge seam and a second peripheral edge seam are formed. A first adjoining edge is not affixed to the upper portion, likewise a second adjoining edge portion not affixed to the lower portion thereby form a mouth of opening and the end of opening respectively. The adjoining edge are separable to widen the opening (comprising the mouth of opening and the end of opening), and to permit introduction and exiting of the occupant's body part (e.g., a foot, leg, arm, hand, or in any combination thereof) to be extended out of the bed covering for an exposure respectively.

The overlap may be made in any direction and at any location, horizontally, diagonally, vertically or in any combination thereof in relation to a feature of said bed covering, like a bottom edge of said bed covering. The length of the overlap depends on how much overlapping is desired to accomplish the dual-intent of the inventive purpose so that the occupant's unexposed body parts are adequately covered despite the opening. Therefore, the length of the overlap must be sufficient with a substantial margin to give an adequate coverage without being adversely affected by the opening and also to ensure an “easy exit” for the body part to be extended out of the bed covering. “Easy exit” means that the occupant may not have to struggle or to unduly readjust his or her position to extend his or her body part out of the bed covering, and at the same time the occupant's unexposed body is adequately covered.

For an added security to ensure an adequate coverage, decorative ties, a zipper, or val claws, or any similar means of temporary closure at anywhere along the adjoining edges (i.e. the mouth of the opening and/or the end of the opening) may be employed if preferred. The length of the overlap is equal to the length of the first peripheral edge or the second peripheral edge. The length of the peripheral edges may not be equal. Therefore, the length of the overlap may be different from one end to the other end depending on the length of the first peripheral edge or the length of the second peripheral edge.

The length of overlap may be less than about 25% of the greater a length of a first edge of bed covering or a length of a second edge of bed covering, and greater than 2% of the greater of a length of the first edge of bed covering or the length of the second edge of bed covering. The length of the overlap could also be less than about 20% of the greater of the length of the first edge of bed covering or the length of the second edge of bed covering, and greater than 5% of the greater of the length of the first edge of bed covering or the length of thee second edge of bed covering. Or even the length of the overlap may be less than about 15% of the greater the length of the first edge of bed covering or the length of the second edge of bed covering, and greater than 7% of the greater of a length of the first edge of bed covering or the length of the second edge of bed covering.

The bed covering is generally a fabric but it may be any material suitable for sheet, blanket, or comforter. The bed covering is substantially rectangular; however, it could be in any shape.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bed covering embodying the invention where one occupant exposes one's feet (or any body part as desired) without inconveniencing other occupant in the same bed;

FIG. 2 is a plain view of the bed covering with an opening across horizontally embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D are plain views of the bed covering with an opening across the bed covering showing that many variations are possible; FIG. 2B with a decorative ties and FIG. 2C with a zipper.

FIG. 3 gives a plane sectional view of upper portion of the bed covering showing an outer layer of overlapping area;

FIG. 4 gives a plane sectional view of lower portion of the bed covering showing an inner layer of overlapping area;

FIG. 5 gives an enlarged perspective view of an overlap showing both a mouth of opening and an end of opening;

FIG. 5A gives an enlarged perspective view of an overlap showing the length of the overlap from one end to the other end is not equal to each other;

FIG. 5B gives an enlarged perspective view of an overlap showing outer layer; and

FIG. 5C gives an enlarged perspective view of an overlap showing inner layer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Objects of this present invention are: to accommodate individual specific needs and preferences to expose an occupant's body parts; keeping traditional aesthetic appearance; occupants are not separated and at the same time the occupant has an option of choosing his or her preferences and needs without inconveniencing other occupant; comparable cost to manufacture; and traditional concept of whole-body covering with an option for exposure of the occupant's body part (e.g. a foot, a leg, an arm, a hand, or in any combination thereof). And the covering can also be used for animals and for surgery.

Broadly, the present invention provides a variable coverage bed covering for an occupant or occupants without inconveniencing one another while both occupants are not physically separated as shown in FIG. 1. The bed covering 2 is a fabric or any material of any kind and any thickness suitable for a sheet, a comforter, a blanket, or the like. Although the bed covering 2 is shown as rectangular in FIG. 1 the bed covering 2 could be in any shape.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the bed covering 2 includes an upper portion 7, a lower portion 8, an overlap 21, and an opening 22 shown formed between an outer layer 10 and an inner layer 18 as in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. As in FIG. 4 the upper portion 7 and the lower portion 8 are permanently connected by stitches or similar means over a first peripheral edge 23 and a second peripheral edge 24 along the length of the overlap 21. And as a result a first peripheral edge seam 13 and a second peripheral edge seam 14 are formed. A first adjoining edge portion 20 is not affixed to the upper portion 7, likewise a second adjoining edge portion 15 not affixed to the lower portion 8 thereby form a mouth of opening 19 and an end of opening 9 respectively as in FIGS. 3,4 and 5. The adjoining edge portions 15 and 20 are separable to widen the opening 22, and to permit introduction and exiting of the occupant's body part (i.e. a foot, leg, arm, hand, or in any combination thereof) to be extended out of the bed covering 2 for an exposure respectively. The adjoining edges are shown straight lines as in the drawings but they may be any shapes of lines for decorative or other reasons.

The second adjoining edge 15 as in FIG. 3 is not affixed to the lower portion 8, and likewise the first adjoining edge 20 is not affixed to the upper portion 7. As a result, an opening 22 may be formed across and between the outer layer 10 as in FIG. 3, and the inner layer 18 as in FIG. 5 so that the occupant's body part is introduced at the mouth of opening 19 toward the end of opening 9 to extend out for an exposure. If preferred, either the first adjoining edge 20 or the second adjoining edge 15 or both may be made with a temporary closure 25 such as zipper, a tie(s) button(s), or any similar closure along the respective adjoining edge portions for an added protection as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C.

The upper portion 7 and the lower portion 8 may be connected sideways so that the overlap 21 may be vertically as shown in FIG. 2A, diagonally elongated as in FIG. 2B, as shown in FIG. 2C that the overlap 21 also may be slanted in horizontally, or as in FIG. 2D the overlap 21 may be done vertically but in opposite way from FIGS. 2A and 2B. And likewise the opening is formed accordingly across the bed covering as shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D.

The bed covering 2 may be substantially rectangular such that the bed covering 2 is configured with a perimeter bounded by a top edge 3, first left edge 4, first right edge 6, and a bottom edge 5 as shown FIG. 2. The upper portion 7 may be configured with a perimeter bounded by the top edge 3, a second left edge 11, a second right edge 12, and a second adjoining edge 15 as in FIG. 3. The lower portion 8 is configured with perimeter by a first adjoining edge 20, a third left edge 16, a third right edge 17, and the bottom edge 5.

The length of second left edge 11 and the second right edge 12 are substantially equal because the upper portion 7 may be substantially rectangular as shown FIG. 3. However, various configurations are also possible, thus for example, the second left edge 11 may not be equal in length with the second right edge 12. Likewise, the first peripheral edge seam 13 and the second peripheral edge seam 14 may not have an equal length. Therefore, the depth of overlap from one end to other end may vary depending on the shape of the upper portion 7 and the lower portion 8.

The inner layer is configured with a perimeter bounded by the first peripheral edge, a second peripheral edge, and a first adjoining edge. The outer layer is configured with a perimeter bounded by the first peripheral edge, the second peripheral edge, and the second adjoining edge. The adjoining edges are generally straight lines as shown all figures in the drawing, however, the adjoining edges may be any shapes of the lines.

Likewise, as to the lower portion 8 being substantially rectangular as in FIG. 4, the third left edge 16 and third right edge 17 are substantially in equal length. However, the lengths of the third left edge 16 and the third right edge 17 may also be different for the same reason as discussed the above (e.g. circular or trapezoidal shape of bed covering).

Since certain changes may be made in the foregoing disclosure without departing the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and depicted in the accompanying drawings be constructed in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 

1. A variable coverage bed covering comprising: an upper portion, a lower portion joined to said upper portion to form an overlap; the overlap comprising an inner layer, outer layer, first peripheral edge seam, and a second peripheral edge seam, and an opening formed between said inner layer and said outer layer; wherein said opening includes a mouth of opening and an end of opening adapted to introduce an occupant's body part into said mouth through said opening and out from said end such that the occupant's body part is extended out of said bed covering.
 2. The variable coverage bed covering of claim 1, wherein said first peripheral seam is stitched over and along a first peripheral edge and said second peripheral seam is stitched over and along a second peripheral edge.
 3. The variable coverage bed covering of claim 1, wherein said overlap has a length that is equal to a length of said first peripheral edge or said second peripheral edge.
 4. The variable coverage bed covering of claim 1, wherein said mouth of opening includes a second adjoining edge, and said end of opening includes a first adjoining edge, and said adjoining edges are not affixed to said upper portion or said lower portion of said bed covering.
 5. The variable coverage bed covering of claim 3, wherein said length of said overlap is less than about 25% of the greater of said length of a first edge of bed covering or said length of a second edge of bed covering, and greater than 2% of the greater of said length of said first edge of bed covering or said length of said second edge of bed covering.
 6. The variable coverage bed covering of claim 1, wherein said opening is oriented horizontally, vertically, diagonally or in any combination thereof in relation to a bottom edge of said bed covering.
 7. The variable coverage bed covering of claim 1, wherein the bed covering comprises a fabric.
 8. The variable coverage bed covering of claim 1, wherein the bed covering is rectangular.
 9. The variable coverage bed covering of claim 3, wherein said length of said first peripheral edge and said length of said second peripheral edge do not have equal lengths.
 10. A variable coverage bed covering comprising: an upper portion, a lower portion, an overlap including a first peripheral edge seam, a second peripheral edge seam, an inner layer, an outer layer, first adjoining edge portion, and a second adjoining edge portion; an opening wherein said opening is formed between said inner layer and said outer layer; said opening further comprising a mouth of opening and an end of opening adapted for extending an occupant's body part out through said bed covering
 11. The variable coverage bed covering of claim 10, wherein said upper portion and said lower portion are adjoined by stitches over and along a first peripheral edge.
 12. The variable coverage bed covering of claim 10, wherein said overlap has a length which is equal to said length of said first peripheral edge or said length of said second peripheral edge.
 13. The variable coverage bed covering of claim 10, wherein said first adjoining edge and said second adjoining edge are separable for widening said opening for extending an occupant's body part out of the bed covering.
 14. The variable coverage bed covering of claim 10, wherein said opening is oriented horizontally, vertically, diagonally or in any combination thereof in relation a bottom edge of said bed covering.
 15. The variable coverage bed covering of claim 10, wherein said length of said overlap is less than about 20% of the greater of said length of a first left edge of bed covering or said length of a second left edge of bed covering, and greater than 2% of the greater of said length of said first edge of bed covering or said length of said second edge of bed covering.
 16. A variable coverage bed covering, comprising an opening that has an overlap with an inner layer, and an outer layer, wherein said opening includes a mouth of opening and an end of opening adapted to introduce an occupant's body part into said mouth through said opening and out from said end such that the occupant's body part is extended out of said bed covering.
 17. The variable coverage bed covering of claim 16, wherein said overlap has a length that is less than about 25% of the greater of said length of a first edge of bed covering or said length of a second edge of bed covering, and greater than 2% of the greater of said length of said first edge of bed covering or said length of said second edge of bed covering.
 18. The variable coverage bed covering of claim 17, wherein said overlap has said length that is less than about 20% of the greater of said length of said first edge of bed covering or said length of said second edge of bed covering, and greater than 5% of the greater of said length of said first edge of bed covering or said length of said second edge of bed covering.
 19. The variable coverage bed covering of claim 17, wherein said overlap has said length that is less than about 15% of the greater said length of said first edge of bed covering or said length of said second edge of bed covering, and greater than 7% of said greater of said length of said first edge of bed covering or said length of said second edge of bed covering. 